Just starting CPAP

[virob]

Hi,

I took the sleep test about 7 weeks ago. Results showed sleep apnea. Average AHI of 30.2. Condition is considerably worse on my back than on my side which is fairly typical from my understanding. I have purposely slept on my side for years, due to poor sleeping on my back, and may explain why I have gotten away with not being treated up until now. However, I finally just got tired of being tired and got myself tested.

So yesterday I got the trial machine, air sense 10auto, p10 mask, air pressure set to 5-12.

First of all, it is going to take some time to get used to this, I managed a little over 4 hours, of which maybe 3 hours was actual sleeping. I think that is not bad for a start. I was also careful to sleep on my side to try for best results. The good news, I had 0.0 AHI's during that period. Pressure never went above 8, seems like a small miracle.

For the rest of the week, I am going to try to extend the time to a full nights sleep, while maintaining a side sleeping position. If I can maintain a zero or near zero AHI, and get a new sense of energy, I will be very pleased.

After that, I will try sleeping on my back. Would be great to have that sleep position as a option again.

After being very reluctant to admit I needed help and dreading the idea of CPAP, I am now a cautious optimist. This may not be all that bad as I thought.

[Pugsy]

Welcome to the forum.

You may or may not end up needing more pressure when you try sleeping on your back. While OSA is often worse when on our backs it doesn't always mean that we automatically need more pressure. Maybe you will get lucky and your OSA is still well treated at the lower pressure.

I discovered that back sleeping didn't really change my pressure needs but REM stage sleep sure did.
That's fairly common too.

[chunkyfrog]

If this is not your permanent machine, do NOT let then foist off an Airsense 10 "CPAP" OR an "AirSTART" on you.
Both are what we call bricks, only useful for holiday or travel, when you need to save the "good" machine for home use.
They do not provide efficacy data, which discerning pappers DEMAND.

[palerider]

which intelligent pappers DEMAND.

ftfy

[virob]

If this is not your permanent machine, do NOT let then foist off an Airsense 10 "CPAP" OR an "AirSTART" on you.
Both are what we call bricks, only useful for holiday or travel, when you need to save the "good" machine for home use.
They do not provide efficacy data, which discerning pappers DEMAND.

The sleep specialist I am seeing, already indicated that I stick with the same machine at the end of the trial. It was only after I enquired about the possibility of getting a second travel machine did he suggest going for a lower end primary machine to keep the total cost of 2 machines the same as the Airsense 10 Auto, and still getting it all covered by my insurance. Maybe not such a good idea.
I regularly go into the backcountry for 2-3 weeks carrying nothing bigger that a camera or flashlight battery and small solar charger. Will need to study up on just how to keep a CPAP battery charged for that length of time, that is small, portable, and not super expensive.

[Cardsfan]

I think you better confirm that with your insurance if you believe they are going to pay for 2 machines.

[palerider]

Will need to study up on just how to keep a CPAP battery charged for that length of time, that is small, portable, and not super expensive.

small, portable, cheap.

pick two.